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Shindig at the capitol features alcohol — did they break the rules?

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Wine and liquor were served at a recent reception at the state Capitol, a violation of joint legislative rules, said state Rep. Jay Hughes, who provided this photo. The photo has been altered, blurring the face of the bartender.(Photo: Photo provided by Rep. Jay Hughes)

That's the question at least one lawmaker had after a reception at the Mississippi Capitol featured a bar serving wine and liquor.

According to joint legislative rules, "No spirituous or malt liquors, or wines, shall be offered for sale, exhibited, or kept within the Capitol building, or in any room connected therewith, or on the public grounds adjacent thereto."

Rep. Jay Hughes, D-Oxford, posted a photo of a blurry-faced bartender serving drinks at the event and questioned the rule-bending.

"If the rule is outdated, get rid of it, but don't just flaunt it for groups you believe to be worthy," Hughes wrote in an email. "It is simply time to stop allowing a few to disregard the laws they do not like. This is no different than not following the law on school funding, the taxes collected for classroom supplies not all going to classroom supplies, and the bill reading machine. Why do we pass laws if the ones passing them will not even follow them?"

Jackson Symphony League held the event in thanks to its sponsors for the annual ball at the end of September.

The Department of Finance and Administration is responsible for organizing reservations at the Capitol, but agency spokesperson Chuck McIntosh said alcohol was never discussed in relation to this event.

"Anything where alcohol was mentioned had to come from meetings we weren't involved in," McIntosh said.

The rules say any officer or employee in violation of the no-alcohol rule "shall be dismissed from office and service." But, particularly in years past, lawmakers, staffers, lobbyists and others have flagrantly ignored this rule. Alcohol has been imbibed in the statehouse.

Senate Rules Committee Chair Terry Burton, R-Newton, said the rule applies to members of the legislature, not private citizens renting a building for an event.

"That was not a member event. That was an event for a non-profit corporation," Burton said.

Further, there's "no law against serving alcohol in state buildings that we can find," Burton said.

Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves was in attendance. He's also been "to the Old Capitol, the Mississippi Book Festival (at the Capitol) and the Grove" — quipped his spokesperson Laura Hipp — all state-owned properties where drinking often occurs.

Contact Anna Wolfe at 601-961-7326 or awolfe@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter.